Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park
The Canopy Walk at Kakum NP
Location	Central Region of Ghana
Coordinates	5°25′N 1°19′W
Area	375 km²
Established	1960

Kakum National Park is a 375 square km national park located in the Central Region of Ghana. The park was first established in 1960. It is located 30km north of Cape Coast and Elmina near the small town of Abrafo. The entire area is covered with tropical rainforest.

In the park gamekeepers are specially trained in the medical and cultural significance of the local foliage. Kakum National Park contains rare animals, including the endangered Mona-meerkat, as well as pygmy elephants, forest buffalo, civet cats, a wide array of birds, and over 500 species of butterflies.

Kakum National Park has a long series of hanging bridges at the forest canopy level known as the "Canopy Walkway." At 40 m (130 ft) height, the visitor can approach the plants and animals from a vantage point that would otherwise be inaccessible to people. The Canopy Walkway passes over 7 bridges and runs over a length of 330 m (1,080 ft). It is secured by a series of nets and wires for safety purposes. An additional viewing platform that will allow visitors to climb into the canopy without braving the Canopy Walkway is currently under construction.

The Canopy Walkway was built by two Canadians from the city of Vancouver.

The park is located 30km to the North of Cape Coast and is easily accessible by taxis from the city center, and through organized tour buses. The park welcome center contains a restaurant, a Rainforest Lodge, a picnic area, a camping area, and a wildlife education center.

Sources

This article draws heavily on the corresponding article in the German-language Wikipedia, which was accessed in the version of 26 August 2006.

External links

Media related to Kakum National Park at Wikimedia Commons

• Kakum National Park on ghana-net.com
• Travel information from Conservation International.
• Photo Gallery of Kakum National Forest's Canopy Walk